Spermageddon may be just hype

In 1992, a Danish study suggested that the sperm quality in young men was rapidly deteriorating, which would eventually lead to mass infertility. Researchers evaluated sperm counts from 1938 to 1991 and concluded that they had fallen by 50 percent. The reaction was vast and immediate.

People panicked, blaming pollution, plastics, water quality and other environmental factors on the growing problem. Most of the issue stemmed from worries about so-called endocrine disruptors, which are chemicals that interfere with hormones and can cause sexual health problems.

More than 1,000 other studies referenced the research throughout the years, according to The New York Times. While some researchers disagreed with the findings, arguing that the methodology of the study was flawed, there were no equal, follow-up studies that could disprove it.

However, the same Danish group decided to conduct the study again, gathering 5,000 18-year-old Danish men to have their sperm quality analyzed.

Dr. Dolores Lamb told the publication that the research methods used this time around were superior to those from the past study. The data was gathered from participants who were all the same age and from the same area. Additionally, the tools for analysis were improved and if the trend of lowering sperm quality was true, there should have been a noticeable decrease after 15 years.

The new result was that there was no evidence of decline in quality. The levels remained stable, which means that men around the world can breathe a sigh of relief.

Of course, just because one worry about sex may be unfounded doesn't meant that others are. Whenever knocking boots, it's best to know how to use a condom to help prevent pregnancy and STDs.